About Me

From the Marine Corps to IT — and Eventually to Teeth

After four years in the Marine Corps as a Computer Systems Specialist, I transitioned into a civilian IT career that has spanned more than two decades. I’ve spent my career diagnosing problems, researching solutions, and cutting through noise to find what actually works — whether that’s a network failure at 2am or a question about why a software deployment is behaving strangely.

That same mindset — find the facts, ignore the hype, test what matters — is exactly what I brought to teeth whitening when I finally decided to do something about my coffee-stained smile.

The Coffee Problem (And the Deep Dive That Followed)

I drink a lot of coffee. Always have. It goes with the lifestyle — early mornings, long workdays, the kind of hobby schedule that doesn’t leave much time for sleep. I’m also not giving it up. Neither is the occasional glass of good whiskey, for that matter.

What I didn’t fully appreciate for years was just how much those habits were affecting my teeth. When I finally looked at some photos from a trip and noticed how dingy my smile had gotten, I decided to do something about it. But I wasn’t going to just grab the first whitening strip I found at the pharmacy and hope for the best.

I spent months going deep on the research. How do peroxide-based whiteners actually work at a chemical level? What’s the difference between carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide? What does enamel abrasion actually mean, and which toothpastes are most aggressive? Are LED devices just accessories, or do they actually accelerate the bleaching process? What causes tetracycline stains, and why are they so difficult to treat? Why does sensitivity happen — and how do you minimize it?

I read clinical studies, dental school publications, product ingredient disclosures, and consumer reports. I tried kits, toothpastes, and methods myself. And after months of this, I realized two things: first, it worked — my teeth are noticeably whiter. Second, there is an enormous amount of misinformation, misleading marketing, and outright bad advice floating around on the internet about teeth whitening.

Why I Built This Site

I built Club White Smile to be the resource I wished had existed when I started. A place where someone could come in and get straight, well-researched answers without wading through sponsored posts that push the most expensive products or viral TikTok trends that dermatologists and dentists quietly cringe at.

With over 1,175 guides covering every whitening method, product category, stain type, and sensitivity concern I could think of, my goal is simple: help you find what actually works for your specific situation, your budget, and your teeth. Not someone else’s teeth. Yours.

I cover everything from drugstore whitening strips to professional in-office treatments, from charcoal powders (spoiler: I have thoughts) to the best options for post-braces whitening, sensitive enamel, and stubborn tobacco or medication stains. I try to be honest about what the evidence actually says, even when it’s not what manufacturers want you to hear.

A Little More About Me

When I’m not writing about teeth, I’m hiking somewhere in Idaho, hitting a hot spring after a long trail, or sitting at a retro gaming setup that my wife has given up trying to reduce in size. I’m an Idaho guy through and through — I like wide-open spaces, DIY projects, and not wasting money on things that don’t work.

That last part, honestly, is what drives this whole project. I hate buying things that don’t perform as advertised. And the teeth whitening industry has more than its share of products that rely on clever packaging and vague promises rather than real results. My job here is to help you spend your money on the stuff that actually delivers.

A Note on My Other Work

Writing is something I do across a few different areas of my life. Outside of Club White Smile, I’ve authored 33 metal detecting books and 51 ghost town books covering locations, history, laws, and exploration across all 50 states — a very different world from dental enamel, but the same approach: deep research, plain language, and no fluff.

If you’re curious: My Metal Detecting Books → | My Ghost Town Books →
Full author profile: amazon.com/author/smittysahn

Affiliate Disclosure

Club White Smile participates in affiliate programs including Amazon Associates. This means that some links on this site may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. This helps keep the site running and the guides free. I only recommend products I’ve researched thoroughly and believe are worth your attention — my goal is to earn your trust, not a quick click.